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The steeple and spire from the St. Raphael Cathedral were stored for years in a parking lot along East Washington Avenue.
Diocese of Madison Bishop Donald Hying shares plans for the renovation of St. Bernard Catholic Church on Wednesday in Madison.
Diocese of Madison Chief Development Officer Paul Merline, left, and Bishop Donald Hying visit the empty sanctuary at St. Bernard Catholic Church on Atwood Avenue on Wednesday. A $15 million, multi-year project will transform the church into the diocese's cathedral by the fall of 2025.
This rendering shows what the sanctuary of St. Bernard Catholic Church will look like after a multi-year renovation to make the church the cathedral for the Diocese of Madison.
This 1920s-era canvas painting of St. Augustine was discovered during a renovation of St. Bernard Catholic Church.
St. Bernard Catholic Church was supposed to get a steeple when it was built along Atwood Avenue in 1927, but the congregation ran out of money. A steeple could be added after the church becomes the cathedral for the Diocese of Madison.
Paul Lang, director of real estate and construction for the Diocese of Madison, will begin this year building the wood furnishings for the St. Bernard Cathedral. They include alters, the baptismal font and the cathedra, the chair for the bishop.
Interior lights and and stained-glass windows at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Madison.
Photos: The transformation of St. Bernard Catholic Church into a cathedral
St Bernards 09-01252024190344.jpg
Stone remnants from the construction of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church share a crawl space below the church in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
St. Bernard Catholic Church's transformation to a cathedral
Diocese of Madison Chief Development Officer Paul Merline, left, and Bishop Donald Hying visit the empty sanctuary at St. Bernard Catholic Church on Atwood Avenue on Wednesday. A $15 million, multi-year project will transform the church into the diocese's cathedral by the fall of 2025.
St. Bernard Catholic Church's transformation to a cathedral
Interior lights and and stained-glass windows at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Madison.
St. Bernard Catholic Church's transformation to a cathedral
This rendering shows what the sanctuary of St. Bernard Catholic Church will look like after a multi-year renovation to make the church the cathedral for the Diocese of Madison.
St. Bernard Catholic Church's transformation to a cathedral
This 1920s-era canvas painting of St. Augustine was discovered during a renovation of St. Bernard Catholic Church.
St Bernards 10-01252024190344.jpg
Paul Lange, director of real estate and construction for the Diocese of Madison shares plans for the renovation of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
St Bernards 08-01252024190344.jpg
Diocese of Madison Chief Development Officer Paul Merline captures photos of renovation plans for St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
St. Bernard Catholic Church's transformation to a cathedral
Paul Lang, director of real estate and construction for the Diocese of Madison, will begin this year building the wood furnishings for the St. Bernard Cathedral. They include alters, the baptismal font and the cathedra, the chair for the bishop.
St. Bernard Catholic Church's transformation to a cathedral
St. Bernard’s Catholic Church was completed in 1927 but is being transformed into the cathedral for the Diocese of Madison. The former cathedral, St. Raphael, was destroyed by fire in 2005.
St. Bernard Catholic Church's transformation to a cathedral
Diocese of Madison Bishop Donald Hying shares plans for the renovation of St. Bernard Catholic Church on Wednesday in Madison.
St. Bernard Catholic Church's transformation to a cathedral
St. Bernard Catholic Church was supposed to get a steeple when it was built along Atwood Avenue in 1927, but the congregation ran out of money. A steeple could be added after the church becomes the cathedral for the Diocese of Madison.
Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com.
